No player in the area wasmore dangerous with the ballthan Nairn, who completed astellar four-year career with27 goals and 13 assists in hersenior season.

Nairn's goals could comefrom anywhere in theCavaliers' offensive third, andshe was equally adept atfeathering passes to set upteammates. Her four-yearcontributions helped put theSpalding program on the mapin the strong InterscholasticAthletic Association ofMaryland A Conference, asthe Cavaliers reached the titlegame in 2005, captured theirfirst championship last seasonand reached the semifinalsthis fall.

A three-time All-Metroselection and two-timeParade All-American, Nairnfinished her career with aprogram-best 70 goals and37 assists.

"Christine not only is agreat scorer, but is aconsummate playmaker aswell. Using her knowledge ofthe game and making use ofher incredible passing,dribbling and shooting skills,she makes everyone aroundher better," Spalding coachBob Dieterle said. "She readsthe field, the game, heropponents and herteammates better than anyplayer I've seen."

Nairn, an under-17 U.S.national team pool player, isset to play at Penn State nextyear.

COACH OF THE YEAR

MIKE VAWTERSt. Vincent Pallotti

Before any positions were assigned or gameplans devised, the Pallotti third-year coach first had toget his players to believe.

The No. 2 Panthers (11-5-2) had graduated theirtop scorer, All-Metro Player of the Year AnnesiaFaulkner, along with a talented group of midfielders from last year's team thatfinished runner-up in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland AConference.

By season's end, the Panthers indeed believed, winning their first IAAMchampionship in improbable fashion as the fifth seed.

With a stingy defense and just enough offense, the Panthers came up with1-0 playoff wins over Institute of Notre Dame, John Carroll and thenMcDonogh in the title game. Vawter said the strong influence of last year'ssenior class rubbed off on a poised group led by senior All-Metro standoutsAmanda Carta and Randall Marshall. To compensate for the lack of scoring,the Panthers worked longer on their set pieces, and their goals in theconference semifinal and championship games came off corner kicks.

"We had to take more of a defensive mind-set this season, much moreconservative with the way we attacked, and we made sure not to get asstretched out," said Vawter, who is 40-11-3 in three seasons.